Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-03-09
Washington Gossip.
Regular correspondence of the Journal)
WASHINGTON, D. c., |
Mar. 5, 1887. !

Mar. 5, 1887.
The DEAD CONGRESS.
The session of Congress which has just
closed has been conspicuous one-not for
what it accomplished, but for what it did not
accomplish. The Senate improved its time
very creditably, but the democratic House
completely surrendered itself into the hands
of few men like Randall, Carlisle, etc., who,
armed with this outrageous power, set them
selves up as obstructiopists, and wilfully de-
layed important and much needed legislation.
The deficiency bill failed altogether, and
perhaps :hat fact will make the administra-
ton little less reckless in the expenditures
of the public money. The failure of the for
tifcations bill is, indeed, national calamity,
and utterly inexcusable. AS / am told the
differences between the House and Senate
finally narrowed down to the question, "shall
we have iron or steel guns?" the House de-
claring for the former, and the Senate Tor
the latter. Between them both we get
neither. The refusal of the President to sign
the river and harbor bill has made more than
one congressman sick. l know of one in
stance in particular where Southern con-
gresham had spent a good share OF the
session in getting an appropriation for large
sum to dredge and make navigable the creek
upon which was situated the city where he
resided. 1t would have been tremendous
boom for the place. When twas known that
the appropriation would pass, lots went up a
hundred per cent, but the humble member,
desiring to turn an honest penny, had previ-
ously invested every cent he could raise in
city lots, and so had his near friends. do
not believe he will support the President as
heartily as before, Many of the important
appropriation bills, owing to the ill-advised
procrastiuation on the part of the HouAe,
were rushed through in the last hours of the
session, under a suspension of the rules,
while but two or three of the members knew
their contents.
CLOSING SCENES IN THE HOUSE.
Both branches Of Congress were in session
all the night preceding Friday, and in the
House when the gray dawn of day began to
struggle through the lofty root, tinging every
thing below with sickly, yellow hue, the
noble hall presented a rather ignominious ap-
pearance. The carpet was covered with
scraps of torn paper and cigar stumps. At
times in front of the Speaker stood mass of
men, clutching papers in their hands, wildly
gesticulating, each and every one shouting at
the top of his voice "Mr. Speaker" Every
lounge in the room was occupied by some
sleeping member. One, who was profound
ly wrapped in slumber, had upon his coat
placard on which was written in large letters,
"Old Junk for sale Here!" As early as seven
o'clock in the morning the galleries began to
fill up again and were soon OVERLOOKING with
a reeking, perspiring crowd. 1t is said that
10000 people were a: the capitol. Thrice did
the Speaker surreptitiously call page and
set back the hands of the great clock as they
neared the hour of twelve. But at last with
a loud rap of his gavel he pronounced the
death sentence of the second session of the
XLIXth Congress, while simultaneous shout
went up from the weary, tired members. A
half hour was spent in farewell hand shaking,
and then the floor was deserted. There was
need of these farewells, for more than one
hundred of the members will not sit in the
next Congress.
Mr. CLEvELAND's SHORT FILTRATION WITH
CoLoRED VOTERS.
The appointment of the colored man James
NJ. Trotter of Hyde Park, Mass, as Recorder
of Deeds for the District of Columbia, in the
place of the twice rejected colored politician,
Matthews, has created deep sensation IN
Washington. Every one knows this to have
been a sharp trick on the part of the Presi-
dent that the appointment was made upon
the assumption that the Senate would prompt
ly reject, and that the design was to, first,
capture the colored votes of Massachusetts
and please the mugwumps. second to please
the colored people at large and to play the
role of ''their Moses" and thirdly to crafty
his own personal spite. He did not expect
Trotter to be confirmed; he did not wish him
to be; and the Senate by prompt confrma-
ton has completely check-mated the Presi-
dent in his laundering political scheme. This
undignifed strategic appointment was match
ed BY the act of a few humorous District cit
liens who improvised a string-band, and
Thursday night proceeded to the White House
and in horrible discord played the air "a New
Coon in Town tonight" four times in sue
cession. This sort of serenade is said to be
unparalleled in the history of Presidents.
The dignity which "doth hedge king" does
not protect when indignities are persisted in,
and the question of the day by the former
slave.owner is "What seems to be Cleve-
lands fsvorite rose?" to which the reply is
made Negroes !"
SOME CLERKS BECOME ALARMED.
The clerks in the office of the Register of
the Treasury had an attack of cold chills the
other day when it was rumored that the
colored man, Matthews, was to be appointed
Register of the Treasury, in the place of
Gen. Rosecrans, who would be made the
head of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, a
position he has long coveted. Matthews is a
very "airy" man, full of duplicity and would
make life burden to the clerks under him.
JEFF DAVIS INVITED TO WASHINGTON.
There seems to be no doubt but that JEFF
Davis has been formally invited by the CON-
mander of a Vicksburg military company to
| visit Washington as a guest of the company
during the National drill in May, and further
that Mr.. Davis is considering the invitation.
All l have to say 10 that il he comes here he
will find and greet great many of his old
associates in treason who are now holding fat
offices under the government. And they will
| be very glad to see him. But don't think
he will come.
| STILL LINGERING.
| Usually large numbers of Congressman
leave the city Immediately after the final ad.
tournament; but it seems not to be so this
wear. The democrats, especially, linger a
| little longer to daily with that ignis fatuus,
government patronage The departments
to day have been crowded with members,
mostly from the South linking affar tbar